A 27-year-old white trans woman is the latest recorded victim of fatal violence in Louisville, Kentucky. Blair Sawyer was riding her bicycle when she was hit by a moving car, then fell off her bike with fatal injuries.
Police say the impact caused the bicyclist to be knocked off. The driver did not stop, continuing in an unknown direction. The rider was taken to University of Louisville Hospital where they were declared dead. Police have not released more information about the vehicle that struck and killed Blair, according to WDRB except that they are looking for a Ford Taurus.
Anyone with information in this or any other case is asked to call LMPD’s anonymous Crime Tip Line at 502-574-LMPD (5673). Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the department’s Crime Tip Portal by clicking here. Photos and videos can also be submitted through the online tip portal.
As per usual, the media and law enforcement information misgenders Blair.
Until the driver is found and the details surrounding the accident (or incident) are clear, we can’t assume that this was unrelated to Blair’s identity. We don’t know. Clearly a crime was committed when the driver drove away and did not stop to render aid. But so much else remains unknown.
Studies gathered by BikePGH off some insight into why we have to keep an open mind and not brush this off as a pure accident unrelated to Blair’s identity:
Women and gender minorities experience increased and documented barriers to safe cycling. In a 2017 study on street harassment, two-thirds of participants reported experiencing their first harassment at or before the age of 14, contributing to an early gap that tells girls, children of color, and LGBTQ children that walking and cycling are unsafe environments for them.
In addition to verbal harassment, a 2019 study from the University of Minnesota showed that women cyclists are nearly four times as likely to be closely and dangerously passed by vehicles as their male counterparts.
Honoring Blair
Blairs family has opted for a private burial. There’s no official obituary that I could find, but I did come across this post from her mother. It reads in part:
Blair Sawyer was tragically taken from us at the age of 27 on August 11, 2025, after being hit while bike riding in Louisville, Kentucky. Blair had a love for dragons, playing the piano and other instruments. Blair Graduated with honors from Excelsior Springs High School. Blair had a large extended family from Blair’s online gaming and online artistic presence.
Sources tell me that Blair sometimes used the name “Thea” but that using Blair was appropriate. Note that her mother does not use any pronouns, that’s certainly better than misgendering her but does leave open a lot of questions about her identity. If you knew Blair and can clarify, please reach out to me.
The Context
Blair is the 15th trans person whose death has been reported in 2025. .She is the 13th trans woman. Blair is the third white person from those 15 reported deaths.
As for Kentucky, in June of this year, trans woman Hope Lyca Youngblood, a native of Mayfield, KY was killed after being struck by multiple cars in Los Angeles. Zachee Imanitwitaho of Louisville, Kentucky, was killed at her workplace on February 3, 2023. She was 26. In 2021, Cris Blehar was murdered in Vine Grove, Kentucky, May 19, 2021. She was 65. Vine Grove is about 41 miles outside of Louisville. And in 2015, a 21-year-old trans woman known as Emma and Ryan Zimmerman traveled from Corbin, Kentucky to Columbus, Ohio where she met a grisly fate. I am still confirming that Ryan used the name Emma. I’ll update when confirmed either way.
I have reported on 15 deaths so far this year. I know of at least three others I have to write. So the real context is fluid.
Rest in power, Blair. You deserved to ride your bike safely on any street and certainly for a person who struck you to stop and help. You deserved many years to teach us about dragons and speak to us through your piano music, to enjoy gaming and creating art – things most of take for granted. You deserve to tell your own story. I am very sorry we did not create a safer world for you.
May you memory be a revolution.
Deaths reported in 2025
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- Tahiry ‘Tokyo’ Broom – February 9, 2025. Detroit, Michigan. Age 29.
- Sam Nordquist – February 2025. Canandaigua, New York. Age 24.
- Amyri Dior – February 21, 2025. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Age 23.
- Ervianna ‘Baydee’ Johnsonn – February 19, 2025. Tabor City, North Carolina. Age 25.
- Linda Becerra Moran – February 27, 2025. Los Angeles, California. Age 30.
- Kaitoria ‘Kai’ Le’Cynthia Bankz – March 31, 2025. Autaugaville, Alabama. Age 31.
- Kelsey Elem – April 24, 2025. St. Louis, Missouri. Age 25.
- Shy’Parius Dupree – May 19, 2025. Memphis, Tennessee. Age 32.
- Laura Schueler – June 7, 2025. Cincinnati, Ohio. Age 47.
- Hope Lyca Youngblood – June 7, 2025, Los Angeles, California. Age 49.
- JJ Godbey – June 19, 2025, Canton, Ohio. Age 26.
- Rosa Martinez Machuca – August 11, 2025, Austin, Texas. Age 24.
- Kamora Woods – June 25, 2025, Indianapolis, Indiana. Age 27.
- Kasi Rhea – August 18, 2025, Lynchburg, Virginia. Age 31.
- Blair Sawyer – August 11, 2025, Louisville, Kentucky. Age 27.
Other deaths I’ve reported during 2025
- Elisa Rae Shupe – January 27, 2025. Syracuse, New York. Age 61.
- Chilendrina Gracia Dominguez – January 18, 2021. Reported February 2025. Albuquerque, New Mexico. Age 42.
- Amira O’Neill – July 6, 2023. Ann Arbor, Michigan. Age 44.
- Jay Lee – July 8, 2022. Oxford, Mississippi. Age 20.
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